Heavy rainfall in South Gujarat on Thursday resulted in flood-like conditions, leading to extensive rescue and evacuation measures in several districts, including Valsad, Navsari, Surat, and Tapi. In Valsad, over 12,700 individuals were relocated to safer areas as emergency teams worked to rescue those trapped in inundated regions.

Reports from the Valsad district flood control room indicate that approximately 12,754 residents from low-lying areas were moved to relief shelters, where provisions for food, drinking water, and accommodation have been arranged. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) successfully rescued 352 individuals stranded in floodwaters across various locations throughout Valsad.

Overflowing rivers, including the Auranga River in Valsad and the Swargvahini River in Dharampur, led to the inundation of multiple areas. Additionally, authorities released excess water from Halar Lake after it overflowed. The adverse weather also resulted in damage to property, with reports of the loss of 18 animals and destruction of 27 kutcha houses, 11 pucca houses, and one cattle shed.

Government Mobilises Resources for Relief Efforts

The Gujarat government is conducting relief operations under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel. Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi visited Navsari to evaluate the situation and directed officials to maintain a vigorous approach to rescue and evacuation activities. In order to bolster the response, the government has assigned ten senior officials to oversee operations in Valsad.

Additionally, the authorities have deployed 70 Army personnel, along with five boats, five NDRF teams, five SDRF teams, and 25 firefighters to assist with rescues. Over 500 individuals from rural areas of Umargam, Vapi, Dharampur, and Pardi have also been relocated to safety. A notable rescue operation was conducted involving the safe extraction of all 35 passengers from a bus trapped in floodwaters near Koparli.

The situation was also dire in Navsari where officials reported an average rainfall of 4.5 inches by the afternoon of Thursday, leading to the Juj and Keliya dams overflowing. This caused the closure of nearly 250 roads, and approximately 3,000 individuals were moved to relief shelters. State Finance Minister Kanubhai Desai has assessed conditions at the disaster control centre in Navsari, emphasising the importance of healthcare and sanitation in relief operations.

Community Guidance and Coordination by Authorities

In Surat, ongoing rescue efforts involved 24-hour emergency services, with over 50 residents rescued from areas including Geeta Nagar and Sheetla Mata Temple. In total, 2,244 individuals from Surat city and 2,603 from rural regions have been moved to safety. Further, in the Tapi district, SDRF personnel successfully assisted 11 villagers trapped in floodwaters.

In the Ambika taluka of Surat district, overflowing rivers necessitated the evacuation of 295 residents from seven villages to secure locations. The Gujarat government prioritises the welfare of its citizens and has instructed officials to ensure the provision of adequate food and essential facilities at relief camps.

Authorities have urged the public to refrain from spreading rumours and to rely on official communications for updates. The government highlighted the role of technology in aiding rescue efforts, with the Gujarat Police’s social media monitoring team actively identifying distress messages online to facilitate prompt rescues.

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